Cajon High School football standouts Jonathan Perkins (L), and Cam Stephens (R), watch as Jayden Daniels announces he will attend Arizona St. to play NCAA college football during a signing ceremony at Cajon High School in San Bernardino, Ca., December 13, 2018. (John Valenzuela/ Contributing Photographer)

Cajon High School football standout Jayden Daniels, poses with family after announcing he will attend Arizona St. to play NCAA college football during a signing ceremony at Cajon High School in San Bernardino, Ca., December 13, 2018. (John Valenzuela/ Contributing Photographer)

Cajon High School football standout Jayden Daniels, announces he will attend Arizona St. to play NCAA college football during a signing ceremony at Cajon High School in San Bernardino, Ca., December 13, 2018. (John Valenzuela/ Contributing Photographer)

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Cajon High School football standouts Jonathan Perkins (L), and Cam Stephens (R), watch as Jayden Daniels announces he will attend Arizona St. to play NCAA college football during a signing ceremony at Cajon High School in San Bernardino, Ca., December 13, 2018. (John Valenzuela/ Contributing Photographer)

Cajon quarterback Jayden Daniels (C) #5 runs for a more than 50 yard touch down against Murrieta Valley in the second half of the non-league football game in Murrieta on Friday, August 31, 2018. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Cajon quarterback Jayden Daniels throws the ball during a CIF-SS Division 3 semifinal game at Capistrano Valley High School on Friday, November 16, 2018. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

Cajon quarterback Jayden Daniels runs with the ball during a CIF-SS Division 3 semifinal 46-42 win over Capistrano Valley High School on Friday, November 16, 2018. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

Cajon quarterback Jayden Daniels (C) #5 before the non-league football game in Murrieta on Friday, August 31, 2018. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Cajon quarterback Jayden Daniels runs with the ball during a CIF-SS Division 3 semifinal 46-42 win over Capistrano Valley High School on Friday, November 16, 2018. (Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

Cajon quarterback Jayden Daniels (C) #5 poses for a picture after running for a more than 50 yard touch down against Murrieta Valley in the second half of the non-league football game in Murrieta on Friday, August 31, 2018. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

SAN BERNARDINO – To start a new chapter, one must finish the chapter they are currently on.

Jayden Daniels officially ended the Cajon High School chapter of his life on Thursday as he announced he was finishing his term at the school and enrolling at Arizona State in January.

Daniels, along with teammates Jonathan Perkins (Oklahoma) and Cameron Stephens (Nevada), participated in a mock signing ceremony at the high school Thursday, the final day of classes for the semester at Cajon. All three will officially sign their letters of intent next week.

With it being his final day at Cajon, Daniels described the day as “bittersweet.”

“Today’s my last day here at the high school,” Daniels said in the crowded high school theater. “I just want to thank everyone who’s supported me, my head coach, Coach Rogers, the athletic director, and everyone who’s shown me love and supported me for the whole four-year process.”

The four-year process for Daniels started at the beginning of his freshman year, as he took control of the Cajon offense as soon as he stepped onto the campus. He ended his career with the Cowboys having started 53 games. He threw for 14,007 yards and 170 touchdowns and rushed for 3,645 yards with another 41 scores.

In addition to his record-setting play on the field, Daniels also did what needed to be done in the classroom. He is graduating from Cajon a semester early and looking forward to getting to Tempe where he expects to compete for the Sun Devils’ starting position next season.

“I’m real excited for going down there and getting ready for football – just playing football all year long,” Daniels said. “We start in February. So just go in there and start to compete and on to the next chapter.”

Daniels will enter Arizona State along with two other quarterbacks and is expected to contend for the starting job as a true freshman. The Sun Devils’ lineup this season was dotted with freshmen, with five starting on defense.

“The team is young, so it shows they play the younger freshmen, playing the best players,” Daniels said. “They want people that want to win and play at the next level. So just showing that, that’s something I want to be a part of.”

During the ceremony at Cajon, the quarterback had four hats lined up in front of him: UCLA, Cal, Utah and Arizona State. Instead of donning one of the hats to show his commitment, he stood up and unzipped his sweatshirt to reveal the Sun Devils T-shirt.

Arizona State came in late to the recruitment of Daniels, but he was impressed by his trip there in November and with something that Sun Devils coach Herm Edwards told him.

“Coach Edwards, the first thing he said was I’m a man of my word,” Daniels said. “I didn’t really get that from other coaches. Him saying that was showing if he says something, he does it.”

For Cajon coach Nick Rodgers, Thursday was also the end of a chapter. But he’s looking forward to seeing where his quarterback will go from here.

“He’s gotten better every year,” Rogers said. “He put up those huge numbers as a junior. And even as a senior he was making better decisions and moving the ball more effectively. He’s just one of those guys that just continues to get better and I’m excited to see what he does here at the next level.”

Rogers said he stayed out of Daniels’ decision-making progress, but offered advice as needed.

“He’s done everything right,” Rogers said. “He’s done right in the classroom and positioned himself to graduate early and go and compete in the spring for a starting spot in the fall. He’s done a great job.

“He’s handled this with a lot of class and just a great kid to have. We’re sure going to miss him.”